Deodorant dispensing apparatus



Filed July 19, 1957 INVENTOR. TI/.L//M C ,BU/VDK,

United States Patent O 2,991,517 DEODORANT DISPENSING APPARATUSv William C. Bundy, Los Angeles, Calif. (1160 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, Calif.) Filed July 19, .1957, SenNo. 672,897 Claims. (Cl. 21-12'4) This invention relates to a dispensing apparatus and is more particularly concerned with a dispensing apparatus adapted to handle a liquid deodorant, or the like.

The use of volatile lliquid deodorants is widespread and in normal use, requires that a suitable storage container be provided for the deodorant, which container must be carried in ones hand and manually operated each time it is desired to dispense the deodorant. When the deodorant is not in use and being dispensed, jit is common practice to store the container on a closet shelf, or the like, and where it is hidden from View.

As a result of the above, deodorants are not used to their full advantage, since the ordinary person soon tires of going to a closet shelf, or the like, several times va day, or as circumstances require, to get the container of deodorant, pass through the area to be treated, dispensing the deodorant, and then returning the container to its storage place.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel dispensing apparatus for liquid deodorants and a construction which can be advantageously mounted or secured to a wall of the room which is to be treated and which can be easily and conveniently engaged and operated.

Another object of my invention is -to provide -a dispensing apparatus of the character referred to which automatically dispenses and controls the rate at which the deodorant is used.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus in which a container of liquid deodorant can be advantageously engaged.

A feature of the present invention is to provide a perforated case iilled with an absorbent or cellular material and having a socket member adapted toy receive the neck of a container.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a container having a neck with a spray nozzle engaged therein to control the rate of ilow and distribution of the deodorant liquid therefrom and into the case with which it is related.

An object of my invention is to provide mounting means on the case to releasably secure the case to a wall, or the like.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 4apparatus of the character referred to which is easy and economical of manufacture and which is both highly effective and dependable in operation.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood `from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference s mad-e to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus provided by the present invention and showing it engaged on a wall.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. l and taken as indicated by line 2 2 on FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are detailed sectional views of a portion of the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and showing one form of fastening means provided for securing the case of the apparatus to the wall.

The yapparatus provided by the present invention is shown as including, generally, a case A with a socket element receiving opening therein, a filler B in the case;`

a socket element C engaged in the opening in the case, a

liquid handling container 'D having a neck engageablein the socket element C, and a spray nozzle E in the neck of the container and adapted to control the flow and distribution of iluid from the container into the case.

The apparatus is shown as further including mounting means F and G adapted to secure the case to a wall W, or the like.

The case A that I provide is, in the preferred carrying out of the invention, a simple, box-like element having flat,`vertically disposed-front, rear and side walls 10, 11 and 12 and ilat, horizontally disposed top and bottom walls 13 and 14.

The rear, side and bottom Walls 11, 12 and 14 of the case A are plain, imperforate walls. The front wall 10 of the case A is provided with a plurality of apertures 15 Vof limited diametric extent and which establish open communication between the interior and the exterior. ofthe case. The apertures 15 can 'vary in size, number and pattern, however, it is preferred that they terminate short of the lower or bottom portion of the front wall so that a suitable reservoir R is established in the lower or bottom end of the case A to collect and retain any excess liquid dispensed or injected into the case.

l The top wall 13 of the case A is provided with a round, vertically disposed opening 16 adapted to cooperatively receive the socket element C as will hereinafter be described.

The ller B in the case A can be of any suitable porous and/or absorbent material and is adapted to Acarry the deodorant liquid deposited or injected into the case and to control the rate of evaporation of the liquid. In the preferred carrying out of the invention, the filler is diatomaceous earth.

It will be apparent that as the liquid depositedin the case A and filler B evaporates, the gas or vapor flows outwardly through the apertures 15 in the front wal-l 10 of the case and into the surrounding atmosphere which is to be treated.

The case A can be constructed of any suitable material and in any desired manner, however, it is such that it can be yand is, in practice, molded of a rigid plastic material.

The socket element C is an upwardly opening cupshaped member molded of rubber, or a suitable rubberlike plastic material, and is characterized, generally, by a vertically disposed annular side wall 17, a bottom wall 18 and a pair of vertically spaced, radially outwardly projecting retaining flanges 19. The element C corresponds in outside diameter with the opening 16 in the top wall 13 of the case and is adapted to be slidably engaged into the said opening. The vertically spaced ilanges 19 of the element C project radially outwardly from the side wall 17 of the element adjacent its upper end and establish a radially outwardly opening annular groove 20, which groove cooperatively receives and engages the top lwall 13 of the case about the periphery of the opening 16 therein, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The bottom wall 18 of the socket element C is provided with a central port 21 adapted to establish open communication between the interior of the element and the interior of the case A.

In addition to the foregoing, the socket element C is shown as including an annular, upwardly projecting sealing lip 22 about the port 21 in the bottom wall 18 and a radially inwardly projecting retaining and sealing lip 23 at the upper terminal end of the side wall 17. The lips 22 and 23 are adapted to cooperatively engage with the neck of the container D in a manner that will here- Patented July 11, 1961 3 inafter be described, and which is apparent `from the drawings (FIG. 2).

The container D provided by the present invention is in the nature of a bottle and in the preferred carrying out of the invention has substantially at, vertically disposed front, rear and side walls 25, 26 and 27 and at, horizontally disposed top and bottom walls 28 and 29.

An elongate cylindrical neck 30 is provided on the top wall 28 of the container to` project upwardly therefrom and is provided with its upper end portion with radially upwardly projecting threads 31 adapted to cooperatively receive a threaded closure or cap (not shown).

The nozzle E provided by the present invention has a plug-like body 32 press-fitted into the neck 30 of the container- I'D and has a central spray opening 33, which opening is of a size to normally prevent the escape or ow of fluid from the container when it is inverted, or is of' such size as to allow for a slight flow of fluid, as for example one drop every four or five minutes.

The nozzle E is provided with a at top surface 34, which surface is ush with the upper terminal end of the neck 30 of the container.

The neck 30 of the container is slightly larger in outside diameter than the inside diameter of the lip 23 in the socket member C and the threads 31 on the neck are slightly larger in outside diameter than the inside diameter of the side wall 17 of the socket member C. With this relationship of parts, it will be apparent that when the container is inverted and neck 30 is pressed into engagement in the socket member C, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the threads 31 establish snug pressure engagement in the element C and serve to releasably hold the container in proper working position relative to the case A. It will also be apparent that the lip 23 which flexes to initially pass the threads 31 establishes sealing engagement around the neck 30 and also serves to yieldingly engage a portion of the threads 31 and maintain the neck in proper engagement in the socket element.

It will be further apparent that when the various elements of the construction are related in the manner set forth above, the top surface 34 of the nozzle E opposes the bottom wall 18 of the socket element C and the upwardly projecting annular sealing lip 22 of the bottom wall of the plug engages and seals with the said surface 34 of the nozzle, about the opening 33 therein.

In the preferred carrying out of the invention the container D is formed of a flexible plastic material such as polyethylene and is what has become commonly referred to as a squeeze bottle.

With such a bottle or container D, it will be apparent that when the opening 33 of the nozzle E is of such size as it will not normally allow for free flow of the deodorant liquid therethrough, the liquid can be forced through the nozzle, through the port 21 in the element C, and into the filler B, in the case A, by squeezing or otherwise applying pressure onto and collapsing the container. When the opening 33 of the nozzle is of such size that it normally allows for limited flow of liquid therethrough and it is desired to give the filler an extra shot or charge of the liquid being handled, the same procedure as mentioned above can be followed.

It will be apparent that when the bottle or container D is squeezed and the liquid is forced through the nozzle E, the sealing lip 22 of the closure element prevents any of the fluid spray from flowing outwardly between the side wall of the element C and the neck 30 of the container.

The mounting means F that I provide involves one or more adhesive patches 35 fixed to the rear wall 11 of the case A, which patches are adapted to adhere to and mount the case A to the wall W, or other like at surface, when the case is arranged with its back side 11 adjacent the wall W and is pressed thereagainst.

The mounting means G that I provide can be used independently of or in combination with the means F and is shown as including a vertically disposed mounting web 40 with laterally spaced openings 41 projecting upwardly from the top wall 13 of the case A adjacent to andflush with the back wall 11 of the case, and suitable fasteningV means, such as screw fasteners 42, en gaged through the openings 41 and into the wall W.

When the case A is mounted on the wall W by means of either or both of the mounting means F and G and in the manner set forth above, and when the container is inverted and engaged with the element C, the rear wall 26 of the container D occurs adjacent and opposes the wall W and so that when it is desired to compress or collapse the container D the operator need only press the front wall 25 of the container towards the wall W, as by means of a finger or thumb, whereupon the container is collapsed in the manner illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and the liquid within the container is forced outwardly through the nozzle E, element C and into the filler B.

It will be apparent that when the container D is empty it is a simple matter to remove the container D from engagement in the socket element C and to engage a new or lled container therein without moving, shifting or otherwise disturbing the case A.

In practice, one or the other, or both of the lips 22 and 23 can be eliminated, however, it has been found that the said slips materially enhance the gripping and holding qualities of the socket element and allow for better control of dispensing of the liquid.

' Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. An apparatus of the character referred to including, a case having a top wall with an opening therein, a resilient socket element engaged in the opening in the case, a flexible liquid handling container with a neck and engageable in the socket element, a drip nozzle engaged in the neck of the container and controlling the flow of uid from the container into the case, and a filler of absorbent material in the case to carry the liquid deposited therein, the case having apertures therein to allow for the passage of vapors from within the case as the liquid carried by the ller evaporates, said nozzley having an opening therein of such size as to normally allow for one drop of uid to flow therethrough over a predetermined time interval and such as will allow for passage of a solid stream of said fluid when the container is manually collapsed and the uid is under pressure.

2. An apparatus of the character referred to including. a case having a top wall with an opening therein, an upwardly opening resilient cup-shaped socket element having a ported bottom engaged in the opening in the case to seal therewith and with the port in open communication with the interior of the case, a flexible liquid handling container with an elongate neck slidably engaged in the socket element to seal therewith, a drip nozzle engaged in the neck o-f the container to communicate with the port in the socket and controlling the flow of fluid from the container into the case, and a filler of cellular material in the case to carry the liquid deposited therein, the case having apertures therein to allow for the passage of vapors from within the case as the liquid carried by the filler evaporates, said nozzle having an opening therein of such size as to normally allow for one drop of fluid to flow therethrough over a predetermined time interval and such as will allow for passage of a solid stream of said fluid when the container is manually collapsed and the uid is under pressure.

3. An apparatus of the character'referrecl to including,

a case having a top wall with an opening therein, an upwardly opening resilient cup-shaped socket element with a cylindrical side wall and a ported bottom wall engaged in the opening to project into and be carried by the case, a flexible liquid handling container with an elongate eX- ternally threaded neck slidably engaged in the socket element to establish sealing engagement therein, a drip nozzle engaged in the neck of the container and controlling the ow of iuid from the container through the ported bottom wall of the socket element and into the case, and a ller of absorbent material in the case to carry the liquid deposited therein, the case having apertures therein to allow for the passage of vapors from within the case as the liquid carried by the filler evaporates, said nozzle having an opening therein of such size as to normally allow for one drop of iluid to ow therethrough over a predetermined time interval and such as will allow for passage of a solid stream of said uid when the container is manually collapsed and the fluid is under pressure.

4. An apparatus of the character referred to including, a case having a top Wall with an opening therein, an upwardly opening, resilient, cup-shaped socket element with a cylindrical side wall and a ported bottom wall engaged in the opening to project into and be carried by the case, a flexible liquid handling container with an elongate externally threaded neck slidably engaged in the socket element to seal therewith, a drip nozzle engaged in the neck of the container and controlling the flow of fluid from the container through the ported bottom wall of the socket element and into the case, a ller of absorbent material in the case to carry the liquid deposited therein, and mounting means securing the case to a wall, the case having apertures therein remote from the wall to allow for the passage of vapors `from within the case as the liquid carried by the filler evaporates, said mounting means including adhesive patches fixed to the case to adhere tothe Wall upon the application of pressure and to releasably secure the case to the wall, said nozzle having an opening therein of such size as to normally allow for one drop of iluid to ow therethrough over a predetermined time interval and such as will allow for passage of a solid stream of said fluid when the container is manually collapsed and the fluid is under pressure.

5. An apparatus of the character referred to including, a case having substantially vertically disposed front, rear and side walls and substantially horizontally disposed top and bottom Walls, the front wall having a plurality of apertures in the upper portion thereof whereby the lower portion of the case defines a reservoir, the

top wall having a vertically disposed opening, an upwardly opening cup-shaped rubber socket element having a vertically disposed cylindrical side wall, a horizontally disposed ported bottom wall and vertically spaced radially outwardly projecting flanges on the upper end of the side wall establishing a channel, said element being engaged in the opening in the top wall of the case to project into the case and with the said top wall engaged in the channel between the flanges, a flexible liquid handling bottle with a liat vertically disposed back wall and an end wall with a cylindrical neck projecting therefrom and provided with threads about its exterior at the outer end portion thereof, said neck on the bottle being slidably engaged in the socket element to support the bottle, a plug engaged in the neck of the bottle having an opening therein to control the iiow of liquid from the bottle through the port in the bottom wall of the socket element and into the case, a flller of absorbent material in the case to absorb and carry the liquid deposited in the case and control the rate at which the liquid evaporates, sealing and retaining means on thc element engageable with the neck of the bottle and including, an upwardly projecting annular resilient sealing lip on the bottom wall of the element about the port therein and engageable with the plug in the neck of the bottle about the opening therein, a radially inwardly projecting retaining ange on the side wall of the element engaging the neck and a portion of the thread on the neck, and mounting means releasably securing the case to a flat surface, with the back wall of the exible bottle adjacent to and backed by said surface, and including, an apertured llange on the case to project therefrom iiush with the back Wall of the case, fasteners carried in the apertures in the ange and engaged in the surface, and adhesive patches fixed to the back wall of the case to be pressed into gripping engagement with said surface, said opening in the plug being of a size to normally permit the flow of fluid from the container a drop at a time and to pass a continuous stream of fluid therefrom when the container is manually pressed and collapsed.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,007,026 Forbes et al. Oct. 24, 1911 1,349,703 Williams Aug. 17, 1920 1,838,221 Glover Dec. 29, 1931 2,599,686 Bowman lune 10, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Manufacturing Chemist, September 1954, 25 (9), Page 403. 

